Customer Reviews

AC Line Splitter Direct and 10X Sensitivity

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In order to make a current measurement you used to have to break the circuit and run one conductor through your meter's 10A current input and return back to the device from the meter's ground then hope there are no surges over 10A to blow your meter's fuse. With today's advanced amp-clamp meters, and this tool, Safe, Fast, Easy, and Accurate current measurements are posssible.

First, the tool is inserted between your device under test and an AC wall plug.

The tool features 2 "holes" to put your amp clamp into. This eliminates the need to have a split cable with just one wire to put your amp clamp onto. One hole is labled "X1" which has only one wrap of the current carrying wire in it, so your amp clamp will read the actual current used by whatever is plugged into this tool.

The second hole has a trick - Labeled "X10" it features 10 wraps of the current carrying wire and multiplies the meter's reading by 10. By doing this you can just move the decimal point to the LEFT one place and make accurate measurements of very small currents that your amp clamp may not sense accurately otherwise. It's a simple current transformer. Say you are using your clamp on a device that reads 0.1A on the X1 hole. Using the X10 hole your meter could read 0.5 - 1.6 A depending on its rounding numerics. Moving the decimal point one digit left you find what originally was limited by the resolution of your meter to 0.1 A is really 0.05 - 0.16A (again depending on roundoff error you eliminated by using the X10 hole)

There are two other convenient features worth noting other than the X10 current multiplier. Banana jacks are present for Earth, Line, and Neutral to make voltage measurements simultaneously. Also, the somewhat wierd looking "Jack" for the device to plug into is of the "Universal" design found in international hotels and cruise ships which handles most of the USA, Europe, China, Japan, and too many other countries to list. This is the reason the holes on the jack look a little funny and there are 2 ground holes - they accept many plugs equally well. If you are testing an overseas appliance you have an adapter here to the US standard outlet. Combine it with a 2:1 transformer or a variac where needed and you can get 230 volts to run the appliances for countries with 230 VAC voltage standards.

For $11, this adapter can get you out of alot of trouble neatly and extend the low current range of your existing AC amp-clamps. Most people pay $11 just for an overseas adapter. It's a great accessory.

I just got one of these. As a line splitter it's fine, splits a line as well as any other line splitter out there. I thought the funky universal socket was a pretty cool feature, and maybe it is: although the splitter only has a regular NEMA 5-15P (US) plug on the end, its socket will accept lots of different international plug shapes.

Only I guess the international plug standards don't all put hot on the same side, and this splitter is actually wired so if you're using a standard US plug (yes, right, the kind that matches the one on the end of the splitter), you'll get your hot and neutral reversed!

I wish I could have been in the room when the design team figured that out.

This tool makes amperage draw tests extremely fast and easy and very accurate...

Until today I had not fully checked out the ST74 Line Splitter. I was only using it for current measurements. I was reviewing comments today before writing mine and saw a new one advising of the reversed polarity. I don't know anything about it, but these are probably okay to use overseas, or either they don't care. This company just decided to import this product to see what it would do. Sure enough, mine's reversed. I thought the only problem was the fact that using a flat, right-angled plug forces the cord to be guided right across all the measuring points when plugged in. This correction would require a redesign of the circuit board inside to turn it around, but would the unit then even work overseas. The unit is presently designed for the locational convenience of the grounds. By doing this they have reversed polarity, defeated the purpose of two-prong grounding, and created an electrical hazard for the electrician, homeowner, and/or hobbyist in doing so. It's one day too late for me to return mine. Craftsman sells a Line Splitter online only that has the same model number and is obviously manufactured by the same popular company, for less than the company's own brand.

This makes current measurments so much easier on any 120 volt equipment or appliances. This is a must if you do that type if work. This unit has some unusual features that accommodate non standard or european style plugs. For me it replaces an Amprobe adapter that was a thin 2 prong style which I prefer but are no longer available because of the 3 prong ground requirements.

This is great with a clamp meter and a DMM. You can test volts and amp at the same time. This is very easy to use just plug in what you want to test clamp the clamp meter and thats it. It also has places to put test leads to test the volts. Very Easy To Use.

For anybody wondering why you would ever need one of these. Think about when an appliance flips a braker with this plug the appliance into the line splitter you can check the amps. Thats what thows the braker.